UConn Ready for Final Regular Season Showdowns at Rutgers and MemphisThe Huskies Close Out Their Regular Season With A Two-Game Road Set

Rachel Hill will look to help lead the Huskies over the Knights and Tigers in their final regular season matches.

Oct. 23, 2013

STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut women’s soccer team will face American opponents Rutgers and Memphis on the road to close out their 2013 regular conference schedule. The Huskies enter their final two games with a 10-7 overall schedule, going 4-3 in the American. UConn holds the reigns to its own fate as the regular season draws to a close. The Huskies currently rank fifth in the American with 12 points and will look to knock off Rutgers, who sits just above Connecticut with 13 points.

Looking to lead the Huskies down the stretch will be the tandem threat of Rachel Hill (Rollinsford, N.H.) and Stephanie Ribeiro (Pawtucket, R.I.). The duo has combined for ten points in their last three outings, with Hill finding Ribeiro, the reigning American Offensive Player of the Week, for three of her last four scores. Hill and Ribeiro currently rank second and third in American league play for averaging 1.86 and 1.57 points per game, respectively. Trailing just behind them on the score sheet but presenting equally formidable offensive weapons are Riley Houle (Columbia, Conn.) and Julie Hubbard (Waverly, Penn.). Their twelve and eight point efforts, respectively, have combined for three game-winning tallies this season.

Defending the UConn net is redshirt freshman Emily Armstrong (Collegeville, Penn.), who has logged 1541:34 of playing time and started all 17 contests for the Huskies this fall. She boasts six shutouts this season and a goals against average of 1.17. Though a tough UConn defense led by senior Devin Prendergast (Babylon, N.Y.) and Liana Hinds (Hartford, Conn.) has prevented a high volume of shots this season, Armstrong has stood tall with several good stops in close games. One of her highlights includes two key saves that preserved the shutout in a 1-0 OT win against Cincinnati last week.

Rutgers:

The Scarlet Knights own a slight numerical advantage over the Huskies in conference points with a 4-2-1 record in the American. Their two losses have come at the hands of Louisville and no. 19 ranked UCF, to whom UConn has also ceded contests this season. On Sunday Rutgers earned their lone conference tie against USF, who used a second overtime goal to best the Huskies back on October 6th.

Junior Stefanie Scholz leads the Scarlet Knights’ offense with nine goals and one assist for 19 points. Jonelle Filigno and Madison Tiernan have both registered 17 points as a contribution to Rutgers’ offense. In net, Jesica Janosz has started all 16 games for Rutgers. She has allowed 17 goals and made 45 saves this season.

GameTracker will be available for Thursday’s 7pm contest by following this link.

Memphis:

The Tigers have experienced less conference success than Rutgers, going 2-5 in the American. The squad’s two American wins resulted from victories against Houston, who is searching for its first win in league play, and SMU, who possesses three more conference points than Memphis.

Key players for the Tigers include freshman Valerie Sanderson, who has burst onto the college scene with 11 goals and two assists in all 16 games so far this season. Cristabel Oduro has added nine goals while Kaitlyn Atkins has been a playmaker with 12 assists to help drive the front line with double-digit point totals.

Catch all of the regular season finale action at 1:00pm on Sunday via GameTracker.